The baby girl was surrendered under Iowa's Safe Haven law, KCCI Des Moines reported Friday.
The baby girl was born July 30 and is currently in the custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), state officials said. Announced.
Officials say the child will live in foster care until he is adopted.
“This law, enacted more than 20 years ago, allows parents who are in crisis and unable to care for their infant to surrender their child up to 90 days old to a designated location, such as a hospital or fire station,” the report states. “The surrendering parents are protected from prosecution for abandonment.”
In 2024 alone, five babies were surrendered under Iowa's Safe Haven law. In 2023, 10 babies were surrendered to the state's Department of Health and Human Services.
About 71 babies have been surrendered to Iowa since its safe haven law went into effect, according to the report.
